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Ben Utecht’s brain injury: ‘I’ve had some incredible healing’

Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Special to IndyStar
Published 5:09 p.m. ET March 1, 2018

In 2014, Ben Utecht told IndyStar he feared he eventually wouldn't recognize his loved ones because of traumatic brain injury from his football career. Now, after therapy, he says his memory is dramatically improved. Karyn and Ben Utecht posed with their children Elleora, Amy Joan and Katriel, in their Lakeville, Minn., home in 2014.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/The Star)

Not so long ago, Ben Utecht was preparing for a devastating future. A fate of lost memories, blank stares, long pauses and stuttered speech.

But worse than all of that, the former Indianapolis Colts tight end was preparing to some day forget those most important to him — his wife and daughters.

Diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after at least five documented concussions from playing football in college and the NFL, Utecht released an album three years ago, revealing his most dire fears.

Ben Utecht celebrated a touchdown in a 2005 game against the Baltimore Ravens.(Photo: Matt Detrich/IndyStar)

The album was, in part, based on a love letter written to his family for them to read should he some day not remember who they are.

But since then, something remarkable has happened.

“I’ve had some incredible healing,” said Utecht, who won a Super Bowl with the Colts during the 2006 season.

After going through more than 100 hours of intense cognitive brain training to renovate and create new neuro pathways in his brain during the past year, Utecht says he has made miraculous strides in recall.

While he hasn’t been able to restore the memories he’s lost, he’s able to retain new ones.

Before the training began, Utecht’s memory was evaluated to see what he could recall after five minutes and what he could recall after 60 minutes. His results were 12 percent recall after five minutes and 17 percent after an hour.

Those numbers were shockingly low and extremely scary, Utecht said. Since the therapy, the numbers have jumped to 78 percent after five minutes and 98 percent after an hour.

The cover of Ben Utecht's new album.(Photo: Provided by Ben Utecht)

With that healing comes a new outlook on life for Utecht. Just this week, he released an album, “Standing Strong.” It is a new chapter in Utecht’s life.

“The album is a pop, high energy project about hope, justice, perseverance and love,” Utecht told IndyStar.

When asked for a favorite song on the album, he said he couldn't choose. They’re all special to him.

Hear Ben Utecht

“Standing Strong” is available wherever digital music is sold or streamed online. It can be purchased on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/standing-strong/1344064029

Follow Dana Benbow on Twitter @DanaBenbow. She can be reached at 317-750-7794.